LAHORE: Punjab Governor Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman on Friday administered oath to Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan as the new chief justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC).
The new LHC chief justice arrived at the Governor House in Lahore for the swearing in ceremony, where the Punjab governor, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and a senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb received him.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan, Justice Aalia Neelum, Justice Shahid Karim, Justice Shahid Bilal, Justice Farooq Haider, Justice Shehbaz Rizvi, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Deputy Attorney General Rafaqat Dogar and senior counsels also attended the ceremony.
Justice Khan replaces Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti as the chief justice after the latter retired on March 7.
Former CJ Bhatti served the institution for 13 years and occupied the post of chief justice for two years and eight months.
LHC CJ Khan will retire after one year on March 14, 2025, when he will turn 62. Senior puisne Justice Shujaat Ali Khan will next become the LHC chief justice after CJ Khan’s retirement.
Justice Khan has earlier served as the acting LHC CJ for a short term after he was appointed for office on May 2, 2022, after his predecessor the then LHC chief justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti went abroad.
Justice Khan hails from Pindi Gheb of Attock district and he was born on March 15, 1963. –Agencies